Hike to Humphreys Peak Summit

Enjoy spectacular view of east and west side of Humphrey's Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet.

If you think you might only get one chance to hike Humphreys Peak in your life, I recommend this hike so that you can have a unique view experience of the east and west sides of the Peaks. This is a shuttle hike of Humphreys Peak which combines the Humphreys Peak Trail and the Humphreys via Inner Basin hike.

Start at Lockett Meadow, which is 7.1 miles to the peak, but has more gradual elevation gain. The trail leading into the heart of the ancient volcano begins in beautiful Lockett Meadow. The extensive stands of aspens cover the steep slopes of the old caldera and this is a great place to see fall colors. The Inner Basin Trail will eventually intersect with the Weatherford Trail after 3.7 miles hike from the trailhead. After hiking 2.5 miles on Weatherford Trail you will reach Humphreys Saddle, where the Weatherford Trail ends at the Humphreys Summit Trail. Then, follow the Humphreys Summit Trail for 1.0 miles to Humphreys Peak, which is the tallest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet.

After soaking in the views from the highest point in Arizona, turn around and hike 1.0 mile back to Humphreys Saddle. Finally, continue down the Humphreys Summit Trail toward Snowbowl for the final 4.1 miles. After finishing the hike you can camp at Freidlein Prairie Dispersed Camping (FR 522). The scenery of this campground is peaceful and It sits in a grove of pines.

Note: it's going to take a while to drop off and pick up your shuttle vehicles, so be sure to think about precisely when and how you're going to accomplish this. It's important to keep the weather forecast in mind. Desert storms can shift and appear out of nowhere.

Directions to Inner Basin Trail:Drive northeast of Flagstaff on US Highway 89 for 12.5 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 552, directly across from the Sunset Crater National Monument turnoff. Follow FR 552 for approximately one mile.GPS: 35°21'23.2"N 111°37'22.6"W

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Reviews

This was the first hike to a summit for me and it was great! It was without a doubt the hardest thing I've ever done. I live in the mid-west where there is no elevation, so I wasn't prepared for the toll the elevation would take on me, but with some slow steady steps, I was able to summit with my wife in 7 hours.

Did this hike last year and probably shouldn't have submitted. It started hailing just as we passed the saddle but we pushed on anyway. Definitely wasn't a smart decision, so make sure when you do this hike you get to the summit before the afternoon storms hit.